Barbara Weckesser, a group spokeswoman, told supervisors the group hasn't received the help it needs from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

"I understand health issues occur all the time ... but what we're dealing with is overwhelming and unnecessary," Weckesser told supervisors.

"Can you do something to protect our health out there?" she asked, noting a survey of 97 households (representing 307 adults and children) found 94 families complained of noises, dust and strong odors.

Resident Karen Kilbern said she is the mother of a chronically ill child, one who struggles with airborne particulates causing lung trouble.

"We have a problem, and this city has got to figure this out and this county has got to figure this out," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"You guys have more say that I do as a citizen," Kilbern said. "I would like to see you step up, as you are the leaders of the county, and help us with this."

Wecksesser said the group was making an appeal to the county because "we have no other place to cry out."

Both women said a home buy-out program might be a solution.

"We have a house we can't live in, we have a house we can't rent, and we have a house we can't sell," Weckesser said.

She noted maybe the county could create a buffer zone around the industries to help alleviate some of the concerns or even "talk to industry and see if they can keep their air pollution inside their own fence line," she said.

The Cherokee Concerned Citizens group has called out Chevron Corp., Mississippi Phosphates, First Chemical and VT Halter Marine for their emissions, paint spray, dust and noise.

Jackson County Emergency Services Director Earl Etheridge said Monday that MDEQ would be responsible for issues with air quality and paint spray, but the state health department would be responsible for investigating any major health hazards.

Kilbern said the group has reached out to the health department, but they haven't been well received, likely because an investigation and review of the residents' health records would be costly.

"It all comes down to money," Kilbern said.

Supervisor John McKay called for more cooperation and investigation into the residents' complaints.

"This is a concern," he said. "We may not have the answer but we need to be involved in finding an answer."

Supervisor Mike Mangum, who represents the residents of Cherokee, said the county is trying to help open the lines of communication.

"Every time there is an incident -- whether called in by one of the residents or one of the industries -- that comes in to our emergency office, we are responding by taking that information and funneling it through to the appropriate agency," he said.

Most of the calls so far have been air quality-related, Mangum said, and the county will often investigate to see how widespread a problem is.

"We want to make sure MDEQ has all the information it needs," he said.